Q: I am an Episcopalian practicing Christian meditation, and find myself agonizing about technique, being somewhere between Father Keating and John Main. As I am disabled, I meditate lying […]
Centering Prayer: Practicing The Peace That Passes All Understanding
On the western wall of Greystone chapel within Folsom state prison hangs a mural painting. A reconstruction of Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Last Supper,” painted by a Folsom inmate nearly a […]
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Surrendering to a Subjective Presence
Q: Do you believe that centering on a object or mantra is the gateway to silent prayer and hopefully contemplation? Which is a gift from God but not entitled. […]
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Centering Prayer and Singing Bowls
Q: Why are singing bowls using during Centering Prayer? Did Thomas Keating use or implement them? A: Thank you for your question. Let me answer it in two ways. First: […]
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Experiencing Unloading During Centering Prayer
Q: I have been practicing Centering Prayer for more than 20 years now, but I have never experienced “evacuation” of emotions during the prayer as Fr. Thomas describes. I […]
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Our “Big Sits” Story
In 2020 we presented a Centering Prayer workshop for the first time on Zoom. Afterward, one of our friends mused, “Now that it’s possible to reach people who live […]
Challenging People in Prayer Groups
Q: I facilitate a contemplation group and there is a challenging man who clearly has anger issues and likes to argue about whatever has been read. How should I […]
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Contemplation, Centering Prayer and ADHD
Q: I have ADHD and I love to use the ideas from the book Praying in Color. Am I praying contemplatively if I use paint or drawing to center […]
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Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness: Wisdom for the Journey
For all the people who suffer from chronic pain and/or chronic illness, it is a beast. Sometimes pain and other symptoms can make me just want to curl up […]
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A Science Project or a Poem?
A person is not a science project to be examined, analyzed or dissected. A person cannot be known with the clarity and exactness of a lab experiment. A person […]
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Centering Prayer and Sleepiness
Q: I have been practicing Centering Prayer for approximately 8 months now. During the last few months I get very sleepy during the prayer (especially the second session) and […]
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40th Anniversary Conference Reflections
The 40th Anniversary conference was a time of telling stories, stories of how Father Thomas touched our lives, maybe from one of his books, or a video or maybe […]
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The Integrity of the Teaching of the Centering Prayer Method
The integrity of the teaching of the Centering Prayer method is presented in the four guidelines and its conceptual background as described in the Method of Centering Prayer brochure. Additional […]
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Thomas Keating Archive Housed at Emory University
On September 22, 2010, Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. and Emory University signed an agreement to house the works of Fr. Thomas Keating at the Pitts Theological Library of Emory University […]
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Faith and Science Conference
By Jan Masterson, Contemplative Network Director Communications Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. (COL) and Contemplative Network, Inc. (CN) share a history. In 1986, COL established Houston as one of its first chapters. […]
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A Journey of Many Parts
by Elaine Walker, Ireland I have walked 11 different Camino routes in Spain since 2012. It is a path I am compelled to do, although I often don’t always enjoy […]
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Centering Prayer and Unloading of the Unconscious
Q: I am 76 years old and belong to a recovery program. I have read several of Fr Keating’s books on Centering Prayer and by Fr Pennington. I practice […]
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Remaining Grounded in the Heart
Q: Thank you for your articles and questions and answers on trauma and depression alongside Centering Prayer. I have encountered people suffering with trauma and depression, perhaps everyone has trauma. […]
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Remain in My Love
by Brad Huard Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA It was late summer when we sold our house and moved into an apartment. After 22 years in the same home, I found […]
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The Treasure of Hiddenness
by Mary Jane Yates, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and […]
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Teaching Children Centering Prayer
by Jan Reed Austin, Texas USA At University United Methodist Church in Austin, for the last nine years, I have been teaching Centering Prayer at Vacation Church Camp for children, […]
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Attending Church Services as Contemplative Practice
Q: I find it difficult to endure an hour of Sunday Mass, unless the priest happens to be an involving speaker. Many years ago, I effectively left the Catholic Church […]
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Centering Prayer and Other Types of Meditation
Q: I did Centering Prayer for some years but with family (care-giving) responsibilities, I stopped because my head was always spinning and I couldn’t get centered. So, I will soon go on a […]
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Centering Prayer and Sexual Thoughts
Q: My experience with Centering Prayer in the last few years is that often when I sit down and close my eyes, sexual thoughts and images come in that […]
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Centering Prayer and Sacred Circle Dance
by Suzi Kindervatter Centering Prayer has been my core spiritual practice for a more than twenty years. But over the past decade or so, I’ve also been drawn a […]
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